Patient Information Leaflets

Our Staff

We employ over 77 staff full time & part time. This figure is made up (approximately) of:

23 pharmacists

23 technicians

24 support staff

5 students

5 administrative and clerical staff

Dispensary and Distribution

The Dispensary and Distribution services are managed by Pharmacy technicians. We are aiming to reduce the presence of pharmacists in the dispensary and make full use of accredited checking technicians.

The installation of an automated dispensing machine (robotic dispenser) has complemented the one stop dispensing scheme and has aided a quicker turn around time for discharge prescriptions. The robotic dispenser has also cut down on repetitive box picking in distribution which will allow technician staff to take part in the accredited checking scheme, to support the dispensary and augment their skills.

The dispensary services include dispensing for Clinical trials as well as dispensing for in-patients and discharge prescriptions.

All Trust wards have the benefit of a ‘top up’ distribution service. Wards in CCG areas have a regular box service. Community based clinics and local Walk in Centres are also supplied with medicines.

Trust Formulary

The formulary comprises a list of medicines which have been approved by the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) for prescribing within the Trust.

The purpose of the formulary is to ensure evidence-based and cost-effective prescribing and provide information relating to drug use. All prescribing from within the Trust (i.e. in-patient, out-patient and FP10 prescribing) must comply with the formulary. Advice given to GPs with regard to drug treatment options must also be in line with Trust formulary recommendations. This will be monitored on an ongoing basis.

NICE Guidance at Ashford and St Peter’s

NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, www.nice.org.uk) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health. NICE guidance is based on the best available evidence of the most effective care, looking at clinical and cost effectiveness, and aims to ensure treatment is available equally across different regions (i.e. avoids so called ‘postcode prescribing’).

The Foundation Trust has a responsibility to implement NICE guidance to ensure patients receive the best and most appropriate treatment and that NHS resources are not wasted by inappropriate treatment ... read more

Clinical Services / Medicines Management

The clinical pharmacy service is based on the Trust’s Directorate Structure. Each Directorate or sub speciality has a lead Senior clinical pharmacist who provides evaluated information on drug expenditure, usage, prescribing trends, risk reduction etc. This information is reported to the relevant Clinical Directors and General Managers on a monthly basis.

Current specialties include –

General medicine

Care of the elderly,

Medical admissions

Oncology and haematology

Surgery,

Orthopaedics,

Critical care,

Family services and paediatrics

Junior pharmacists take part in a rotation of all specialities

High standards of clinical pharmacy are upheld. Ongoing assessment aims to continuously improve and develop on these by a process of peer review. Risks are minimised by scrutiny of the in-house intervention database, using this to assist in teaching of medical and pharmacy staff.

We also have a team of medicines management technicians working with our clinical pharmacists at ward level to operate our One Stop Dispensing/ Use of Patients Own Drugs scheme.

Education and Training

All pharmacy staff are encouraged to take part in further education. Pharmacists and technicians are also expected to keep CPD records.

Pharmacist, Technicians and Trainees attend lunch time training sessions including the Learning @ Lunch programme from the CPPE.

Rotational pharmacists undertake the Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice [University of London] a 3-year course or other accredited centre.

Pharmacy assistants work towards NVQ level 2 in line with the GPhC guidelines for Pharmacy support staff.

Teaching

Pharmacists also participate in the provision of training and for junior doctors, the Trust staff induction programme, the nurse education programme and contribute to training for other healthcare staff.

Pharmacists are also involved in patient education programmes such as the Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme.

Pharmacy Medicines Information Service

Contact details for Frimley Medicines Information Department are as follows:

Telephone number: 01276 604744 (direct line)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, urgent enquiries out of hours should, as before be directed to the on-call Pharmacist.

Coming into Hospital

About the Trust

We are the largest provider of acute hospital services in Surrey, serving a population of more than 410,000 people in the boroughs of Runnymede, Spelthorne, Woking and parts of Elmbridge, Hounslow, Surrey Heath and beyond.

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Ashford Hospital

Ashford Hospital is situated on the A30 to the west of London, close to the junction 13 of the M25 and Heathrow Airport.

London Road, Ashford, Surrey, TW15 3AA

Switchboard: 01784 884488

St Peter's Hospital

St. Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey is situated in greenbelt parkland between Woking and Chertsey near junction 11 of the M25.